Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win a second World Cup
Ferran Torres struck early in extra time and, with Argentina down to ten after Enzo Fernández's red card, Spain denied Messi's side back-to-back titles at MetLife Stadium.
Spain are world champions for the second time. A tense, goalless final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford turned Spain's way in extra time, where Ferran Torres settled it barely a minute into the second period, sweeping in a pass from Nico Williams to make it 1-0 and end Argentina's bid to become the first back-to-back winners since Brazil in 1962.
For much of the night Spain pressed and Argentina resisted. Emiliano Martínez was the reason the game reached extra time at all, the goalkeeper producing a string of saves as La Roja piled up 20 shots to Argentina's two. The balance tilted decisively in stoppage time of the first 90 minutes, when Enzo Fernández was shown a second yellow card and Argentina were reduced to ten men.
Spain had a goal ruled out before the winner arrived, Nico Williams turning the ball home only for a Mikel Merino foul on Nicolás Otamendi to be spotted in the build-up. Torres made the reprieve irrelevant soon after the extra-time interval, and Spain saw out the closing stages having conceded no shot on target across the entire final.
It is a landmark night. Spain, already European champions, add the World Cup they last lifted in 2010, and captain Rodri was named the tournament's best player, collecting the Golden Ball before raising the trophy. Spain finished the tournament unbeaten and conceded only one goal in the whole competition.
The result may also close a chapter. At 39, Lionel Messi took a runners-up medal in what is widely expected to be his final World Cup, one step short of the back-to-back triumph that would have crowned his career.
